Container with flat top and integral overcap



March 9, 1954 R. c. TAYLOR 2,671,596

CONTAINER WITH FLAT TOP AND INTEGRAL OYERCAP Filed NOV. 18, 1948 ssneets-sheet 1 Z7 I Z5 5.5;;

INVENTOR.

March 9, 1954 R. c. TAYLOR 2,671,596

CONTAINER WITH FLAT TOP AND INTEGRAL OVERCAF Filed Nov. 18, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 4 March 9, 1954 c, TAYLOR 2,671,596

CONTAINER WITH FLAT TOP AND INTEGRAL OVERCAP Filed Nov. 18, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig 7 f4 47 ii 7 A i I r .57 7 Z] INVENTOR.

A 7 TOENEYS Patented Mar. 9, 1954 CONTAINER WITH FLAT Tor AND INTEGRAL OVERGAP Russell 0. Taylor, Greenwich; Conn; assignor to American Can' Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application'November 18, 1948, Serial No.60,794

6 Claims.

This invention-relatesto containers for the packaging and deliveryof liquids, such as-milk, fruit juices or the like and hasparticular reference to a sanitary fibre container of an improved construction embodying a-one-piece combinationtopend memberor closure and" an overcap or shield for protecting the top closure from contamination.

The invention: constitutes an improvement upon the container illustrated and described in United States Patent 1085979 issued July 6, 1937,

to -JohnM. Hothersalland is especially 'an improvement on the top closure construction thereof.

The invention'contemplates a liquid-proof fibre container,

end of the bodyand adhesively-united-thereto in a leak proof end seam and havingan extension of :the top end member folded back upon itself An objecti of the invention is the provisionof'" a sanitary fibre container for milk and other products wherein the top surface of the container is covered and protected at all times against contamination from outside foreign matter.

Anotherobject is the provisioniof such a containercwhereinianlovercap or shield is provided 3 comprising a substantially squaretubularbody 'havinga topend member secured to overlapped marginal edge portions of the top a of the container;

as an integral and hingeable extension of: the top 1' end member to overlap, protect and maintain'the top surface anda peripheral edge of the container: in sanitary condition.

Another object is the provision of such a con tainerwherein the hinged overcap or'shield is formed with a friction plug or closure element which is engageable'within a filling and dispensing opening in-the topend member for closing and sealing the container and which is coactive' with "overlapped edges of the overcap for holding taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: Figure '1 is 'a'fragmentary perspective view of 2.. the' upper 'part of a' sealed container embodying" the present invention and illustrating a hinged overcap'iin a raised position relative tothetori' of the container;

Fig. 2 is'a'fragmentary'enlarged sectional view of the-container illustrated in Fig. 1 taken sub stantially along a vertical plane indicated by'the lines2-2 in that figure and showing'the protec= tive cover or overca p secured totheupper'part Fig.- 3 is a fragmentary perspective'view of the container illustrated in" Fig. 1 with the'iparts' shown insuperimposed or exploded position preparatory to assembling;

Fig. 4 is aviewsimilar to Fig; 1 showing an alternative form of the invention and illustrating" a plug closure formed as an integral part of the hinged overcap and disposed in a raised position;

Fig$5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional'view I of the'container illustrated in 'Fi'g. 4 'taken"'sub-' stantially'along a vertical plane indicated by the lines E5 in that figure and showing the"ovr-' cap secured to the "upper part of "the' container" with the plug closure *in' sealed position within the filling and dispensing'opening;

Fig. 6 is a view similar toFigsJl and 4 showing j another modification of the'invention illustrat ing an overcap having a hingeable section' extending diagonally across the 'top'iof 'the"co'n-' tainer; and

Fig}? is a view similar toFig. 5 taken'sub'stan'- tially along-the vertical planeiindicated by the lines 'l-'! in Fig, 6 and "showin the overcapl secured to the upper part of the container with" the plug closure in sealed'position within the filling and dispensing opening.

As a preferred and'exemplary embodiment of l the instant invention as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the drawings illustrate a rectangular container comprising a fibre tubular body It closed at its upper end with a sanitary, fiatyfib'retopl end member l2. The bottom end of the container maybe 'closed in any suitable manner; suchior example as disclosed in the above mentioned" Hothersall patent.

The body I l is formed'prefer'ably from'a single sheet or blank of fibrous material foldedat-right" angles to provide four side walls 'l3 and having the side edges of the sheet'overlapped to form' a vertical lap side seam I l. The overlapped seam tions I 6 are bent laterally outward into a peripheral, flat horizontal wall section ll, thence folded upwardly and horizontally inwardly in overlapping relation thereon in a wall or flange 8 which terminates at its inner edge along a vertical line substantially flush with the inner surface of the wall sections l6, defining a mouth for the container body. The flange I8 is adhesively secured to the wall section I! to provide a substantially flat double walled end supporting ledge 2|.

The top end member l2 preferably is formed from a one-piece fibrous blank 22 of sufiicient dimension to provide when folded the end member I2 at one end of the blank and an overcap 23 at the other (Fig. 3). The top end member I2 is fiat and unindented, is rectangular in configuration and is substantially of the same size as the area defined by the outer peripheral edge of the supporting ledge 2| to which it is to be secured. The top end member l2, adjacent one corner of its free end, as best shown in Fig. 3, is formed with a circular filling and dispensing opening 24.

The overcap 23 is integrally connected with the top end member 2 as an extension thereof, along a line of fold 25 which defines a side edge common to the top end member and to the overcap (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The overcap 23 is adapted to cover and to protect the top end member and to keep it clean and sanitary. Hence for this purpose the overcap 23 also is rectangular in shape and slightly larger than the top end member |2 so that it may be folded down in overlapping relation upon the top surface of the top end member and over certain of the surrounding peripheral edges of the container.

Adjacent the line of fold 25 a portion of the overcap 23 is additionally secured to the top end member |2 by a narrow strip of adhesive 23 (Figs. 2 and 3). The overcap 23 is adapted to be lifted or swung back from its overlapped position on the top end member to expose this member and the filling and dispensing opening 24 for the purpose of filling products into a container to which such an end is secured and for the dispensing of the products therefrom. Hence, the overcap is formed with a crease line 2'! disposed adjacent the adhesively secured portion thereof and along which the overcap 23 is hingeable as best illustrated in Fig. 1.

The filling and dispensing opening 24 in the top end member is closed by a hingeable closure plug or reclosure element 28 which is formed with a countersunk friction plug 3| which fits snugly in and closes and seals the dispensing opening 24. This element is formed with an opening tab 32 and an oppositely disposed tail or hinge lug 33. The hinged closure element 28 is secured to the top end member I2 by a wire staple 34 which extends from the hinge lug 33 down through the top end member and is bent back against the lower surface thereof, permitting the closure element 28 to be swung up and back to facilitate both operations of filling and dispensing of the container contents.

The hinged closure element 28 is assembled to the top end member to provide a unitary or composite closure prior to assembly with the container body When such a unitary closure is applied to the container body H, the top end member l2 covers and seals the entire mouth of the container as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. When assembled to the container this unitary closure is permanently secured to the flat double walled end supporting ledge 2| by a liquid proof adhesive 35 forming an overlapped double joint or end seam 36. The outer periphery of this seam preferably is in vertical alignment with the outer surface of the side walls |3 of the container body.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates the unitary closure structure after its assembly onto the container body and discloses the flat top, free of indentations or recesses and providing a substantially sterile area over which the container contents may be poured without contamination during a dispensing operation.

Following the assembly of container parts as hereinabove described and while the container is still in the container manufacturers plant, the entire container and composite end closure preferably is coated inside and outside with paraffin wax or other suitable sterile coating material for rendering them liquid and moisture proof. The friction plug 3| is then inserted into the opening 24 and the overcap 23 is folded down over the top of the container. The completed containers thus temporarily closed and sealed are shipped to dairies for filling.

At the dairy, the hingeable overcap 23 and the closure element 3| are swung back exposing the opening 24 and the container is filled. While the container is open during the filling operation or during dispensing when the container is tilted into the usual pouring position, the hingeable overcap serves as a shield for preventing any matter on the top surface of the overcap from entering the container or from falling onto the clean and sanitary surfaces thereunder. After filling, the container is reclosed by replacement of the friction plug 3| into the opening 24. The friction plug 3| then isexpanded to form a holding bead 37 (Fig. 2) which secures the plug in place.

Following the sealing of the friction plug, the overcap 23 is folded down on the top end member l2, over the top of the friction plug 3| and is secured in place by curling or crimping over and under the end seam 33 (Fig. 2), marginal edge portions or flanges 38 which extend laterally from the overcap along the three free edges thereof. These crimped over flanges retain the overcap in place during handling of the container while in shipment and storage and until opened by the consumer.

As an alternative or modified form of the invention Figs. 4. and 5 of the drawings disclose a hingeable overcap 4| which is similar in many respects to the overcap 23 hereinbefore described. The overcap 4| is arranged to cover and protect the top end member to maintain it clean and sanitary and to provide a friction plug closure 42 integral therewith, which plug registers with the filling and dispensing opening in the top end member for closing and sealing it.

The friction plug 42 of such a container is lifted from the filling and dispensing opening in the top end member when the overcap 4| is swung up and back upon arrival at a dairy for filling purposes. The closing operation of the filled container includes the overlapping of the overcap 4| and its engagement over the entire top surface of the top end member.

The expanding of the reclosed friction plug 42 is carried on in substantially the same manner to that already described for the preferred embodiment of the invention and thus forms a holding bead 43 (Fig. 5). This holding bead 00- operates with a crimped over section 44 around the end seam in maintaining the hingeable overcap in protective position on the sealed container.

As another alternative or modified former the invention Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings disclose an overcap 46 which is similar in some respects to the overcaps 23, ll hereinbefore described in that it is formed as an integral extension of the top end member. The overcap 46 includes a triangular portion A! permanently secured to the top end member and a free triangular portion 58 which is hingeable relative thereto and to the container body for covering and for exposing a part of the top end member surrounding the filling and dispensing opening.

The triangular portion 41 is connected to the top member along a line of fold at one side edge of the container remote from the filling and dispensing opening. This triangular portion is secured to the top end member adjoining the folded side edge 5| and to an adjacent side edge 52 by a narrow strip of adhesive 53 bordering upon the edges 5|, 52 between these two layers (Fig. '7)

The free triangular portion 48 is hingeable along a crease line 54 which extends diagonally across the top of the container between its opposite corners. The hingeable portion 48 is formed in a suitable manner to provide a countersunk friction plug 55 integral therewith, which plug registers with the filling and dispensin opening in the top end member for closing and sealing the container.

The friction plug 55 is lifted from the filling and dispensing opening when the triangular hinged portion 48 is swung up and back for exposin the opening for filling purposes. During the closing and sealing operation the triangular hinged portion 48 is overlapped upon the exposed part of the top end member and the friction plug 55 reinserted within the fillin and dispensing opening for closing and sealing the container.

The expanding of the reclosed friction plug 55 is carried on in substantially the same manner as in the other embodiments hereinbefore described and thus forms a holding bead 55 (Fig. 7). This holding bead 56 co-operates with a crimped-over flange section 5'! along adjacent side edges 58, 59 of the triangular hinged portion 48 for retaining this portion in protective position on the sealed container.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A fibre container for liquids, comprising a tubular body, and a separate substantially flat multi-layer end member permanently secured to an end of said body in a laterally projecting end scam, the inner layer of said end member being substantially co-extensive with and secured to the end of said body and having a filling and dispensing opening therein, a plug closure member hingedly secured to the inner layer of said end member for closing and sealing said opening, the outer layer of said end member constituting an integral hingeable overcap extension of said inner layer reversely folded adjacent the outer edge of said end seam and superposed over the inner layer to protect the latter and said plug closure member from contamination, the free marginal edges of said hingeable overcap being folded over and around. said projecting end seam to removably secure the overcap in protective position, rearward hinging movement of said overcap relative to the inner layer of said end member providing access to said plug closure for opening the latter to fill and dispense the container contents through said opening.

2. A fibre container for the packaging and dispensing of liquids, comprising a tubular body of rectangular cross section, and a separate substantially fiat rectangular multi-layer end member permanently secured to an end of said body in a laterally projecting end seam, the inner layer of said end member being substantially co-extensive with and adhesively secured to the end of said body at said seam and having a filling and dispensing opening therein, a plug closure member hingedly secured to the inner layer of said end member for closing and sealing said opening, the outer layer of said end member constituting an integral hingeable overcap extension of said inner layer reversely folded adjacent the outer edge of said end seam and superposed over the inner layer to protect the latter and said opening from contamination, the free marginal edges of said hingeable overcap extending from opposite ends of said line of fold on adjacent sides of the container being crimped over and around said projecting end seam to removably secure the overcap in protective position, rearward hinging movement of said overcap on said line of fold providing access to said plug closure for opening the latter to fill and dispense the container contents through said opening.

3. A fibre container for liquids, comprising a tubular body terminating at its upper open end in an outwardly projecting coplanar peripheral ledge, and a separate substantially flat end member of integral inner and outer layers secured to said open body end, the inner layer of said separate end member being substantially co-extensive with and permanently adhesively secured at its marginal portions to the outer surface of said body ledge to constitute therewith an outwardly projecting end seam, said inner layer having a filling and dispensing opening therein, and a plug closure for said opening supported by one of said layers, the outer layer of said separate end member constituting an integral overcap extension of said inner layer reversely folded and superposed over the inner layer to entirely cover and protect the latter and said opening from contamination, the free marginal edges of said overcap being folded over and around a portion of said projecting end seam to removably secure the overcap in protectiv position, a portion of said overcap extension being hingeable outwardly relative to said inner layer to provide access to said opening for filling and dispensing the container contents.

4. A fibre liquid container as defined in claim 3, wherein said tubular container body is of rectangular cross-section.

5. A fibre liquid container as defined in claim 4, wherein said plug closure for the filling and dispensing opening constitutes an integral depending portion of said overcap extension, and the free marginal edges of said overcap on three adjacent sides thereof being folded over and around the three subjacent edges of said end seam for the purpose described.

6. A fibre liquid container as defined in claim 4, wherein said overcap extension includes a fixed triangular portion permanently adhesively secured to the inner end member layer along two 7 adjacent'sid edgesremote-from the container 7 References Cited-in theme of this patent opeziingandamovable triangularpo rtionintegrai- UNITED STATES PATENTS with and -h1ngeab1e on said fixed triangular portion to-overli'e said opening, adjacent side edges Number Name Date of said movable triangular portion being; folded 5 2,085,979 Hothersau J 1937 over andaround the subjacent'side edges of "said 2'135355 Snyder NOV. 81 1938 end seam, said plug closure being formedas an 2,272,203 Hothersall 1942 integral depending part. of. said movable tri}. 2,341,379 Householder et a1. Feb. 8; 1944 2,346,685 Hothersall Apr. 18,1944

angular overcap portion.

10 2,393,753 Downing Jan. 29, 1946 RUSSELL C TAYLOR. 2,398,409 BIOOkS A131. 6, 94 

